Curtain-stretcher.



N0. 70|,0I4- Patented May 27, |902.

C. G. CARLSON.

CURTAIN STBETGHEB.

(Application led Dec. 9, 1901.)

(No Model.) 2 Sheas-Sheet l. a l) W -Ma .y/

np/ *a \f k H FL EN `I are E p. Q m f\ P Q E) maf/fw N0. 701,0l4.Patented May 27, |902.

C. G. CARLSON.

CURTAIN STHETCHER.

(Application filed Dec. 9, 1901.) (No Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheet 2,

UNiTnn STATES PATENT OFFICE.

CHARLES G. CARLSON, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

CURTAIN-STRETOHER.

SPECIFICATION formingpart of Letters Patent N o. 701,014, dated May 27,1902. Application filed December 9,1901. Serial N9. 85,159. (No model.)

1'0 aM whom, it may concern:

Beit known that l, CHARLES G. CARLSON, acitizen of the United States,residing at Ohicago, in the county of Cook and VState of Illinois, haveinvented a certain new and useful Improvement in Ourtain-Stretchers, ofwhich the following is a specication.

The invention relates to that class of curtain-stretchers having dividedside bars or rails adapted to fold edgewise at the joint, with end barsor rails attached to the side bars or rails at the corners by means ofsuitable clamping-bolts, so as to be adjustable for changing the lengthand width of the stretcher, and having a central cross bar or brace forgiving rigidity to the side bars or rails at the joint and preventingthe inward curving or bending of the side bars or rails in use.

The objects of the invention are to simplify and improve the connectionof the side bars or rails at the joint, so as to enable the side bars orrails to be folded each on itself edgewise readily and quickly and so asto permit of the folding of the side bars or rails onto the cross-barone over the other and placing on the folded side bars or rails the endbars or rails, making a compact folding of the stretcher or frame forshipment or storing away when out of use; to improve the plateconnecting the divided side bars or rails at the joint and forming theabutting ends of the sections or divisions of each side bar or rail, soas to permit of the folding together edge- Wise of the sections ordivisions, and When unfolded have the joint at the division-line rrn andstrong; to furnisha pivotal connection for the abutting ends of thedivided side bars or rails through the connecting and stiffening platewhich will enable one of the side bars or :rails to be elevated Withoutbreaking the pivotal connection for the passing thereunder of thesections of the other side bar or rail in' folding the stretcher into asmall compass, and to improve generally the construction and operationof the curtain-stretcher as a Whole.

The invention consists in the features of construction and combinationsof parts hereinafter described and claimed.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is a top or plan view showing the stretcheropen in condition for use; Fig. 2, an edge elevation of the stretchervopen as in Fig. 1;' Fig. 3, a top or plan view showing the divided sidebars or rails partially folded one underneath the other on top of thecross-brace or stiifeningbar; Fig. 4, a top or plan viewwith the dividedside bars or rails completely folded one under the other on top of thecross-brace or stiifening-rod; Fig. 5, a top or plan view with the endbars or rails placed on the folded side bars or rails and held in placeby the corner clamping-bolts Fig. 6, a side elevation of the foldedcurtain-stretcher frame with the parts together as in Fig. 5, and Fig. 7an end elevation of the folded frame with the parts together as in Fig.5.

The curtain-stretcher has the side bars or rails A and A', divided atthe center, each section or division of each bar or rail being of equallength, and each bar or rail at its end in the arrangement shown has aslot a, permitting of the endwise adjustment of the end bars or rails.The end bars or rails B each have a longitudinal slot b in one end, andthe other end is provided with a hole b', as shown, suitable for thepassage of the clamping-bolts. A clamping-bolt C is provided for thecrossing corners of the side bars or rails.

and the end bars or rails, the clamping-bolt at tWo of the cornerspassing through the slots c and b of the side bar or rail and the endbars or rails and at the, other corners passing through the slots of theside bar or rail and the'hole in the end of each-end bar or rail.

*Each clamping-bolt has a winged nut, with thumb or nger pieces or Wings c and a broad base c', so that by tightening the Winged nuts theclamping-bolts will operate and firmly unite the crossing corners of thebars or rails. A cross-brace or stiEening-bar D of a lengthcorresponding to the length of the end bars Yor rails extends from siderail to side rail,

overlapping the joint of each bar or rail at the abutting ends of itssections, and this cross-brace or stiffening-barhas in one end a slot dand in the opposite end a hole (not shown) for the passage oftheclamping-bolts which unite the cross-brace or stiening-bar to the sidebars or rails. The cross-brace or stiffening-bar is on the under side ofthe side bars .or rails, overlapping the joints at the abutting ends,and on the opposite face of each side bar or rail is a stiffening-plateE,

IOO

having its side edges 'e turned so as to overlap the edge of the sidebar or rail and furnish a bearing on top and each side of the bar orrail at the joint of the abutting ends. A 'clamping-bolt F passesthrough the slot d of the cross-brace or stiening-bar and through thehole between the abutting ends of the side bar or rail A, formed bysemicircular recesses a2 inthe end face of the abutting ends, as shownin Figs. 3 and 4, and this clampingbolt is of a greater length than theunited depth of the thicknesses of the sections of the side bars orrails when folded together, so as to allow the side bar or rail A to beraised or lifted above the face of the cross-braceor stiifening-barasufticient distance to leave a space in which to enter the sections ofthe sidebar or rail Al in folding the frame. A clamping-bolt F passesthrough the hole therefor in the end of the cross-brace orstiffening-bar and through a hole formed in the abutting ends of thesections of the side bar or rail A by semicircular recesses a2 in theface of the abutting ends, the same as described for the abutting endsof the side bar or rail A for the passage of the clamping-bolt F of saidbar, and this clamping-bolt F is of a sufficient length to pass throughthe end of the cross-brace or stiffening-bar and the side bar or rail,and the clamping-bolt projects the required distance for receiving atightening-nut and permit of the withdrawal of the nut the distancerequired for raising the stiffening-plate, so as to have its side edgesor flanges c clear the face of the side bar or rail, and allows thesections of the side bar or rail to be turned edgewise toward eachother, and this is also true of the clampingbolt F so far as concernsthe release of its nut to raise the stiening-plate for its side edges orflanges to clear the face of the side bar-or rail A and permit thefolding of the sections of the side bar or rail edgewise on themselvesinwardly in addition to the length required for the bolt F to permit ofthe raising or lifting of the side bar or rail A to leave the space forthe admission of the side bar or rail A in folding the frame. Eachclampingbolt F and F has a winged nut, with side pieces or wingsjc and acenterf, which when the nut is down to place abuts against a boss orraised portion e' on the face of each stiffening-plate, so as to give asolid bearing for the clamping-bolts in tightening the cross brace orstiffenin g-bar to the side bars or rails.

The stifening-plate E for the side bar or rail `A has depending from itsunder side near each end a pivot or pin G, and each pin or pivot Gpasses through the abutting ends of the sections of the sidebar or railand furnishes a pivotalconnection between the stiffening-plate andtheabutting ends of the side bar or rail, t

permitting the sections of the side bar or rail to fold and unfoldedgewise in closing and opening the side bar or rail. These pins orpivots G each haveA a head g and each is of a length to allow of theraising or lifting of the stiifenin-g-plate above the face of the bar orrail and leave a space of a depth to clear the thickness of the plateand its edge from the face of the bar or rail for folding edgewise, andthe heads g prevent the entire withdrawal of the pins or pivots inraising or lifting the two sections of the side bar or rail A for theentrance between the side bar or rail and the cross-brace orstiffening-bar of the sections of the divided bar or rail A when foldededgewise. The stiffening-plate E for the joint of the divided side baror rail A has at each end a depending pin or pivot G', similar to thepins or pivots` G, except being shorter and having no heads, the headsbeing unnecessary for the pins or pivots G', as it is not required toraise the abutting ends of theside bar or rail in folding the sectionsthereof onto the cross-brace or sti ffening-bar. The side bars or railsand the end bars or rails each have on the inner edge a rabbeted ordepressed portion 72 through which in the construction shown from theunder side are driven the retaining-pins t' for the attachment of thecurtain or other article to be placed on the frame when extended.

The curtain-stretcher in use has the side bars or rails A and A extendedand the end bars or rails attached thereto at the crossing corners bythe clamping-bolts and the crossbrace or stiffening-bars attached overthe joints at the abutting ends of the side bars or rails, and the sidebars or rails and the end bars or rails are adjusted through the mediumof the slots in their ends, so as to set the frame for the size of thecurtain or other article to be placed on the stretcher. The frame isfolded into a compact form by removing the nuts of the cornerclampingbolts and withdrawing such bolts, so as to detach the end barsor rails. nuts of the bolts F and F are loosened or receded a sufficientdistance for the lifting or raising of the respective.stiffening-platesover the joints of the divided side bars or rails, the nut of the bolt Fbeing receded so as to permit of the lifting or raising of the side baror rail A a sufficient distance to enter ybetween the sections of saidbar or rail, when folded edgewise on itself, the sections of theside-bar or rail A' which fold over the crossbrace or stiffening-bar.The sections of the bar or rail A are folded edgewise inwardly, turningon the pins or pivots of the stiifeningplate to overlie the cross-braceor stiffeningbar, and the sections of the side bar or rail A are foldededgewise inwardly over the sections of the side bar or rail A', turningon the pins or pivots of the stiffening-plate of such bar to pass overthe sections of the divided bar or rail A' for their free ends to passover the stiffening-plate of the bar or rail A. The manner of foldingthe sections of the side bars or rails is shown in Fig. 3, and in'orderto permit of the close folding of the sections of the'bar or rail A theinner edge of the sections on the inside are each cut out, so as to Theclamping- IOO IIO

leave an edgewise depression as, which permits the free ends to clearthe head of the winged nut for the sections to lie parallel with andover the sections of the bar or rail A', as shown in Fig. 4, in whichfigure the side bars or rails are completely folded for the sections ofthe bar or rail A to lie on the cross-brace or stiifening-bar and thesections of the bar or rail A to overlie the sections of the bar or railA', making a package of a length equal to the length of the section ofthe bar or rail and of a width slightly greater than twice the width ofthe bar or rail. The end bars or rails are placed in position one overeach section of the side bars or rails, and the corner clamping-bolts Care passed through the slot a of a section of the side bar or rail A andthrough the slot Z) of the end bar or rail and the clamping or Wingednuts threaded onto the ends of the clamping-bolts, securing the end barsor rails on the folded side bars or rails, as shown in Figs. 5, 6, and7, making a close and compact bundle or package which can be stored awaywithout occupying much room and which is in the best possible shape fortransportation or shipment. The side bars or rails folded edgewiseinwardly bring the retaining-pins on the inside, where they will beprotected, and in placing the end bars or rails in position the bars orrails are turned to have their under face on top, which brings theretaining-pins of such bars or rails downwardly on the inside, so thatwhen in a folded condition the retaining-pins are all on the inside andfully guarded and protected against injury. The stiffening plates whenthe stretcher has its frame folded lie crosswise of their respectivefolded side bars or rails, with the turned edges or flanges resting onthe face of the bars or rails, as shown in Fig. 7, and preferably thelength of each stiening-plate is approximately the same as the width ofthe side bars or rails when folded, so as to leave but little, if any,projecting ends of the stiffening-plates, as shown in Figs. 4 and 5. Theturning or folding of the sections of each side bar or rail inwardlyedgewise is permitted by rounding the inner corners of the abutting endsof the sections of the bar or rail, so as to leave a curved corner a.for the folding and unfolding of the sections, and

when opened out the abutting ends contact f each other on their straightportions, so that when the stiifening-plate is brought down to positiona firm and solid joint is formed, and the folding and unfolding movementis attained through the pins or pivots depending from thestiening-plates and passing down between the abutting ends of the bar orrail sections.

The construction is very simple, the stiening-plates, with theirdepending pins or pivots, furnishing a means for giving rigidity to thejoint between the abutting ends of the side bars or rails and alsoforming a pivotal connection for folding and unfolding the sections. Thelengthening of one of the clamping-bolts for attaching the cross-braceor stiffening-bar to the side bar or rail enables the side bar or railto be raisedfor its sections to overlie the sections of the otherV baror rail when the bars or rails are folded edge- Wise inwardly, and thisraising or lifting without detachment is permitted by the stops on thepins or pivots of the sti'lfening-plate for the bar or rail to beraised. The frame can be quickly and easily brought into condition to befolded, requiring only the removal of the corner clamping-bolts and theWithdrawal of the end bars or rails, loosening the clamping-bolts forthe cross-brace or lstiffening-bar, raising one of the side bars orrails, folding the sections of the side bars or rails edgewise inwardlyto overlie each other on the cross-brace or stiifening-bar, placing theend bars or rails bottom upward on the folded sections of the side barsor rails, passing the corner clamping-bolts through the slots of one ofthe side bars or rails and the end bars or rails, and applying andsetting down the nuts of the clamping-bolts, and when folded, ifdesired, for shipment the folded frame can be secured againstdisplacement or movement edgewise of the bars or rails by tying bands orcords or otherwise. The construction is one which enables the frame tobe folded up for shipment or storing away and to be readily unfolded andextended for use, and to unfold and extend the frame for use it is onlynecessary to withdraw the nuts of the corner clamping-bolts, `removesuch bolts from the slots, take away the end bars or rails, open out orextend the sections of the side bars or rails, place the end bars orrails underneath the ends of the opened side bars or rails, pass thecorner-bolts through the slots, apply the nuts, adjust the bars to thedesired position, and tighten the clamping-bolts for the corners andtheclampingbolts for the cross-brace-or stiening-bar, making the frame inits extended position rigid and firm for the reception of the curtainsor other articles.

What I regard as new, and desire to secure `by Letters Patent, is-

l. In a curtain-stretcher, the combination of divided side bars or railsedgewise folding a stiffening-plate for the joint of each side bar orrail overlapping the abutting ends of the bar or rail sections on eachside of the joint, depending pins or pivots for each stiening-plate, onepin or pivot at each end of the plate, the pins or pivots of one platehaving a greater length than the thickness 'of the bar or rail and eachprovided with a stop on its lower end, a cross-brace or stiffening barextending from side bar or rail to side bar or rail and crossing thebars or rails at the joints on the opposite face of the bar or rail tothe stiffening-plate, clamping-boltsone for each end of the cross-braceor stiifening-bar, passing through the cross-brace or stiifening bar,between the abutting ends of the sections of the side bar or rail, andthrough the stiening plate one bolt having a greater length than thecombined thickness of the cross-brace or stiifening-bar and the two sidebars or rails when folded, and tighteningnnts for the clamping-bolts,substantially as described.

2. In a curtain-stretcher, the combination of divided side bars or railsedgewise folding a stilfening-plate for the joint of each side bar orrail overlapping the abutting ends of the bar or rail sections on eachside of the joint and having on each side depending edges or flangesengaging the side faces of the bar or rail, depending pins or pivots foreach stiffening-plate, one pin or pivot at each end of the plate thepins or pivots of one plate having a greater length than the thicknessof the bar or rail and each provided with a head, a cross-brace orstiening-bar extending from side bar or rail to side bar or rail-andcrossing the bars or rails at the joints on the opposite face of the-bar or rail to the stilfeningplate, clamping-bolts, one for each end ofthe cross-brace or stiening-bar, passing through the cross-brace orstiening-bar, between the abutting ends of the sections of the side baror rail, and through the stiifening-plate, one bolt having a greaterlength than the combined thickness of the cross-brace or stiffening-barand the two side bars or rails when folded, tightening-nuts for the clampin g-bolts of the cross-brace or stiffening-bar, end bars or rails, andclamping-bolts for the crossing corners of the side bars or rails andthe end bars or rails, substantially as described.

3. In a curtain-stretcher, the combination of divided side bars or railsed gewise folding, each bar or rail at its abutting end having a roundedinner corner and a semicircnlar reing from side bar or rail to side baror rail and crossing the bars or rails at the joints on the oppositeside of each bar or rail to the stiffening-plate, clamping-bolts one foreach end of the cross-brace or stiffening-bar passing through thecross-brace or stiifening-bar and the semicircular recesses in theabutting ends of the sections of the side bar or rail and through thestiEfening-plate, and tighteningnuts for the clamping-bolts,substantially as described.

4. In a curtain-stretcher, the combination of divided side bars or railsedgewise folding each section of each bar or rail at the abutting endshaving a rounded inner corner, a stiftening-plate for thejoint of eachside bar or rail overlapping the abutting ends of the bar or railsections on each side of the joint and having on each side dependingedges or iianges engaging the side faces of the bar or rail, dependingpins or pivots at each end of the plate, the pins or pivots furnishing apivotal connection between the sections ofthe divided side bar or rail,permitting, in conjunction with the rounded inner corners at theabutting ends of the sections, the edgewise folding of the sections ofthe divided bar or rail, a cross-brace or stiffening-bar extending fromside bar or rail to side bar or rail and crossing the bars or rails atthe joints on the opposite side of each bar or rail to thestiffening-plate, and clamping-bolts, one for each end of thecross-brace or stiffening-bar, passing through the cross-brace orstiffening-bar, between the abutting ends of the sections of the sidebar or rail, and through the stiifening-plate, for drawing together thecross-brace or stiffeningbar and the abutting ends of the side bar orrail and forcing the stiIfening-plate against the face of the bar orrail on each side of the joint, substantially as described.

5. In a curtain-stretcher, the combination of divided side bars or railsedgewise folding, each bar or rail at its abutting end having a roundedinner corner, a stiening-plate for the joint of each bar or railoverlapping the abutting ends of the bar or rail sections `on eachsideof the joint, depending pins or pivots for the stiffening-plate, one pinor pivot at each end of the plate and the pins or pivots of one platehaving a greater length than the thickness of the bar or rail and eachprovided with a stop on its lower end, a crossbrace or stiffening-barextending from side bar or rail to side bar or rail and crossing thebars or rails at the joints on the opposite face of the baror rail tothestiffeningplate,clamp ing-bolts, one for each end of the cross-braceor stiffening-bar, passing through the crossbrace or stiffening-barbetween the abutting ends of the sections of the side bar or rail andthrough the stiffening-plate, one bolt having a greater length than thethickness of the cross-brace or stiifening-bar and the two side bars orrails when folded, tightening-nuts for the clam ping-bolts of thecross-brace or stiffening-bar, detachable end bars or rails andremovable clamping-bolts for the crossing corners of the side bars orrails and the end bars or rails, for folding the divided side bars orrails edgewise one over the other and on the cross-brace orstiffening-bar and placing the end bars or rails on the folded sectionsof the side bars or rails and thereby folding the stretcher, as a whole,in a compact form for shipment and storing away with the retaining-pinsprotected,substantially as described.

CHARLES G. CARLSON. Witnesses:

OSCAR W. BOND, SAMUEL W. BANNING.

